Loose-leaf binder



c. GOLDSTEIN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FIL ED OCT. 29, I920.

1,401,250, I Patented Dec; 27, 1921.

inventor Chan 1'25 G'oZzZfi Zez'n.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GOLDSTEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO PHILIP V. SPINNER.

LOOSEJJEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Application filed October 29, 1920. Serial No. 420,343.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. CHARLES GoLDsTmN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which; the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders, and more particularly to binders used for removably securing sheets or leaves of paper, and although the inven tion is applicable for many purposes, its use in connection with sample books, photograph binders, and the like, suggests itself as particularly desirable.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive article of the char acter described, and one which is calculated to be especially tenacious in its binding qualities, and readily manipulated in the removal or insertion of sheets. The novel features of the invention will presently be set forth in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the device is clearly illustrated by a series of figures which may be briefly described as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the binder, showing the novel features of construction and manner of binding,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View in perspective of a portion of the binder.

A loose-leaf binder as v commercially known, is in reality a book wherein the covers are separable from the contents or leaves, thereby enabling the latter to be rearranged, removed, or otherwise inserted at will. Manifestly, different types and kinds of fastening means are employed to connect the covers and sheets together along one edge, these fastening means being removed or unfastened when the cover and sheets are to be removed.

As herein illustrated, the binder embodying the invention comprises two covers, a bottom cover 1 and a top cover 2, made of comparatively stiff material, such as is ordinarily used in the book binding art, and between which are held the sheets 3 to be bound. The bottom cover is preferably stifi' or relatively non-flexible throughout, whereas the top cover is hinged or made partially flexible along a line spaced inwardly from' and extending parallel to the back or bound edge as at 4, thus permitting the turning back of the top cover in opening the binder.

Referring more in detail to the structure of the covers, the same are provided along corresponding edges with stifl binding rails 5 and 6. The rail 5 of the bottom cover preferably comprises a strip 7 of relatively stiff material such as wood, which forms the backbone of the rail, so to speak, there being formed in the outwardly facing surface and located midway between the edges, a longitudinal channel 8. Extending over the channel and along the outer or under side of the rail is a thin strip of wood 9 or cardboard, which transforms the channel into a closed passage extending through the rail. A layer of binding cloth 10 envelops the strips 7 and 8, as well as the entire surface of the cover.

The upper cover 6 is made in a somewhat 1 similar manner, havingas its foundation a relatively stifl strip of wood 11, or the like, having an upwardly facing channel 12 along its top face, this channel being retained after the covering layer 13 is applied.

The passage in the rail 5 and channel in the rail 6 occupy corresponding positions, and cooperate with a binding member or strap 14 to bind the covers and contents together. The strap 14 may be of any suitable material, either endless and elastic, or a non-elastic strap with buckle connection as disclosed in the preferred form. The strap 14 is threaded through the passage in the lower binding rail 5, and free to slide endwise therein, the end portions passing around the ends of the upper rail 6, and along the channel therein, the thickness of the strap and the depth of the channel being approximately equal so that the former will be flush therein. A buckle 15 of the friction type is secured at one end of the strap so that by pulling on the free end of the strap the same may be drawn tight and the rails forced toward each other, thus binding the edges of the sheets securely between them. I

A buckle made in this manner provides a very secure-and simple device which is readily and easily manipulated in removing or inserting the sheets. The stiff binding rails exert an even pressure throughout their entire length; thus the sheets are uniformly and adequately retained by tightening the strap to a moderate and non-excessive degree of tautness. It provides an exceedingly handy and convenient binder Where frequent removals or separation of the sheets is desired, as, for instance, in bind ing sample cards, or samples of fabrics and the like.

l laving described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new and novel is as follows:

I claim as my invention:

1'. A loose leaf binder comprising a binding strap, and cover members adapted to retain loose sheets thercbetween, one of said cover members having a channel-like groove extending adjacent one edge thereof and adapted to reoeive'the strap, and the other cover member being provided, adjacent one edge thereof, with a passage adapted to confine the strap.

, 2. A loose-leaf binder comprising, in combination, relatively stiff cover members adapted to retain loose sheets therebetween one of said covers being provided with channel-like groove adjacent one edge thereone of said covers being provided with a groove anjacent one edge, the other cover being provided with a passage extending through the body portion and open at its ends only, said passage being of the same width as said groove, and a binding element extending through and fitting said passage,

and lying in said groove, and having its ends connected, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my namethis 25th day of October, A. D.

CHARLES GOLDSTEIN. 

